Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: most beautiful villages of France

Barfleur (pop. ~600) is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" ( "most beautiful villages of France"). In medieval times Barfleur was an important harbour and shipbuilding site with a population of about 9000. In 1120 the "White Ship" went down outside the harbour. Only two persons survived. Those who drowned included Prince William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England, his half-sister Matilda FitzRoy, his half-brother Richard and numerous English nobles. According to a chronicler Prince William Adelin had suplied wine in great abundance to the about 300 people on board. Many of them may have been drunk, when the ship left the harbour. A result of Prince William Adelin's death was the period known as "the Anarchy". The disaster had left Henry I with only one legitimate child, a second daughter named Matilda. Henry I had forced his barons to swear an oath to support Matilda as his heir, but a woman had never ruled in England. Matilda was unpopular because she was married to Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, who was not liked by the Norman nobles. One of Henry I's male nephews, Stephen of Blois, usurped Matilda. Stephen had allegedly planned to travel on the White Ship but had disembarked just before it sailed. After Henry I's death, Matilda and her husband launched a long and devastating war against Stephen and his allies for control of the English throne. The Anarchy dragged from 1135 to 1153 with devastating effect.

La Roche-Guyon (pop. ~ 450) grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, built in the 12th century, to control the river Seine. Abbot Suger (St. Denis) wrote about the castle, that it was "invisible on the surface, dug in a high rock". Being on the border to the Normandie the castle had some stragetic importance. The Guy de La Roche family were the lords from the 10th to the 15th century. In the 12th century, Guy de la Roche was a vassal of Philip II of France, who rewarded his loyalty by granting him the toll for boats sailing on the Seine. In the 14th century, a mansion was built at the foot of the rock and a secret passage was dug to the upper castle. The strategic importance got lost. In the 18th century a representative entrance, terraces, a large salon, a library and even a small theater were built. Today the village, named after Guy de la Roche is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" ("most beautiful villages of France").

La Roche-Guyon (pop. ~ 450) grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, built in the 12th century, to control the river Seine. Abbot Suger (St. Denis) wrote about the castle, that it was "invisible on the surface, dug in a high rock". Being on the border to the Normandie the castle had some stragetic importance. The Guy de La Roche family were the lords from the 10th to the 15th century. In the 12th century, Guy de la Roche was a vassal of Philip II of France, who rewarded his loyalty by granting him the toll for boats sailing on the Seine. Today the village, named after Guy de la Roche, is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" ("most beautiful villages of France").

La Roche-Guyon (pop. ~ 450) grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, built in the 12th century, to control the river Seine. The town hall and the "halle de la marie" was inaugurated in 1847. Since some decades La Roche-Guyon is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" (“the most beautiful villages of France”).